The Lil Shredder Crew made the trip to Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival in Aptos, CA. The Halahan brothers Lukas, Nathan, and Shane made the trip from Pittsburgh, PA, while Gavin Stanton came down the west coast from his hometown of Portland, OR.
when i watch videos like these i think to myself how do these kids do, are they just raised in a way that doing this is normal? or is it that they are so young they do not realise what they are doing and how dangerous it is?
What impresses me the most is not how ballsy the stuff they do, its more about how skillfull they are. Don't get me wrong, I'd probably be scared to hit some of those jumps, and i cant imagine how scared a normal 5 year old would be. But maybe they just have massive testicles. However, their style and tricks they can do are completely insane for how old these kids are and size.
Kids don't really know what fear is so they don't think as much about crashing as adults would and therfore learn faster. They have different mentality.
That is bullshit, I've tried teaching my little cousin to hit some tiny jumps and longboard, and he was still afraid and hesitant, mind you this is a kid thats considered fearless for his age. and like i said before, even if they are fearless, their level of skill is insane.
Our daughter is only just 5, already hitting the pump park, and transitions... both myself and my girlfriend ride all aspects of mtb (DH/XC/AM), we have an mtb hire/guide business... so i suppose it was inevitable that she would want to follow..... I will be looking for another bike for her, the 'Lil Shredder' looks awesome, are they difficult to find in Europe ? As a footnote.. my daughter Jess thinks the lad who was throwing big shapes and going one footed on the green bike is 'soooooooo cool' :-O daughters eh ???
Watching this put a smile on my face =) this is awesome! There's a local dad that takes his little boy out to Big Bear lake and the kid is hitting all of the big jumps! It's insane! I think they don't have a sense of "fear" at that age.
A couple years ago the halahans gave me jumping advice at the local dirt jumps. They were like waist high to me and about a quarter of my age. Thing is... they were totally right.
To those out there hoping to win slopestyle/dj contests, I'd do that in the next few years because these kids are probably taking over around then. Unreal!!
*READ****Stop hating! This is the future of our sport. I felt the same way 3 years ago when me and my boys started riding and ran into these young shredders at the bike park. But that changed when I actually met the kids and the parents. These boys used to race BMX. Anyone who knows what that scene is like know how hard they push kids in that sport. The family wanted the kids to ride bikes because they have fun. That's how these boys got into freestyle and jumps. These boys have the attitude to go along with the riding ability. Me and my two boys rode with them all winter long at the indoor park here in Pittsburgh called The Wheelmill. They help all skill levels and ages improve their riding ability. I am 41 years old taking pointers from a 9 year old and accomplishing what he said to try and do. My 10 year old would have never overcome gaps or even a vert wall if it wasn't for these 3 Halahan boys riding with him all the time. They have immersed them selves into this sport by maintaining local public dirt jumps. YES they build too. So quit your bitching and get on your effn bike and just ride for fun like these boys and maybe yes you can ride like them some day. I keep trying and improving maybe not at the same speed and level they do, but my kids look up to them. I hope all kids getting in to any sport have the attitude and drive that these boys do and push each other and others around them. Keep it up Luke, Nate, Shane and Gavin let the haters hate.
The haters comment is directed at the people who are complaining about the parents that are "pushing and living through their kids" I also being a parent of young shredders would and do buy my kids new stuff for their bikes when needed with in reason. My 15 year old has to work for the high end parts he wants for upgrades to his non broken parts. Spoil your kids if you can. I would rather buy my kids new bike parts to keep them outside than a new xbox or playstation system and games. Remember children are the future of our sport along with trail builders and maintaining our trails.
For my whole life I've bought all my own bikes with my own money, bought my own season passes and gear. I worked for 3 years in order to afford my first dh bike, and it's still not that good of a bike. And then there are the parents who just give their children the best of the best... Like I would kill for my parents to buy me a new bike
No point getting hung up on it dude, that's just the way it is. I'm the same, I've bought all my bikes myself, personally I think you appreciate it a whole lot more when you've earned it. Looking at it the way you are will only piss you off more. You've got a bike, you can ride, it could be worse.
Mum: "Oh look little Johnny is holding him self up against the sofa"
Dad: "Quick get the balance bike out, we're off to the trails!"